09 LC 94
1251
Senate
Resolution 641
By:
Senator Unterman of the 45th
A
RESOLUTION
Creating
a Senate Study Committee on Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation;
and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
located in Warm Springs, Georgia, the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for
Rehabilitation is a comprehensive rehabilitation center operated under the
Georgia Department of Labor; and
WHEREAS,
the mission of Roosevelt Warm Springs is to empower persons with disabilities to
achieve personal independence; and
WHEREAS,
founded by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1927, Roosevelt Warm Springs has
restored lives and provided rehabilitation services to thousands of individuals
with disabilities for over 80 years; and
WHEREAS,
each year, Roosevelt Warm Springs provides approximately 5,000 individuals with
all types of disabilities rehabilitation services in areas including medical
rehabilitation, vocational rehabilitation, and transitional living services;
and
WHEREAS,
the 900 acre Roosevelt Warm Springs site is recognized as a National Historic
Landmark and includes a historic center quadrangle, 28 historic cottages, and a
fully-accessible camp utilized by 2,000 disabled campers each year;
and
WHEREAS,
a site with great promise for attracting national and international heritage
tourism, Roosevelt Warm Springs is planning a vocational residential village and
school which will have a major impact on the campus and programming;
and
WHEREAS,
Roosevelt Warm Springs has been exploring the feasibility of providing
rehabilitation services for military personnel and veterans; and
WHEREAS,
Roosevelt Warm Springs is the second largest employer in Meriwether County,
plays a critical role in the local economy, and is a vital contributor to the
rehabilitation services offered by the State of Georgia; and
WHEREAS,
there exists a large and supportive community surrounding Roosevelt Warm Springs
that has demonstrated a willingness to be involved in enhancing the institute;
and
WHEREAS,
the Senate Human Development Appropriations Subcommittee visited Roosevelt Warm
Springs and held a hearing on the operations of the facility; and
WHEREAS,
study is needed to evaluate opportunities to enhance Roosevelt Warm Springs with
participation and contributions from the community, the Department of Labor, the
Roosevelt Warm Springs Development Fund Board, and others.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that there is created the Senate Study
Committee on Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation to be composed
of five members to be appointed by the President of the Senate who shall
designate one member as chairperson. The chairperson shall call all meetings of
the committee.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the
conditions, needs, issues, and problems as described above and recommend any
actions or legislation that the committee deems necessary or appropriate. The
committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may
deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its
powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this
resolution. The members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided
for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The
allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of
the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized.
The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come
from the funds appropriated to the Senate. In the event the committee makes a
report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed
legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or before December 1, 2009.
The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2009.